In the month of June we discussed about the planning
of 2014-15 the Chief functionary of the organization and other members
associated with the project: Mr. Rupesh, Mr. Bhushan Prasad and Ms. Babita. We
discussed about the achievement of last year and shared our plan for this year.
We designed the frame work of this year after the discussion.

2. Follow up

In the Follow-up activity we reached all the
institutions which were covered in the survey and they did not make ICC till
now. During the follow-up process, a humble request was made through letters to
the institutions where the survey was covered to form a sexual harassment
complaint committee. The request has been made to form the committee as soon as
possible according to the guidelines provided in the Sexual Harassment of Women
at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) act, 2013. The Project
Coordinator after taking the appointment with the head of the institutions had
held a series of meetings with them and after orientating them about the need
of implementing the sexual harassment laws, she requested them to form sexual
harassment complaint committee at their workplace. She also briefed them the
lawful procedure to form the committee at their workplaces. So far, five
institutions have provided us the written information in this regard.

The IEC materials have been drafted, designed and
prepared for the increasing awareness among the people about the sexual
harassment laws in India. We prepared browser and poster on the laws relating
to sexual harassment such as; the sexual harassment of women at workplace act,
2013, The Indian Panal Code, the Employment laws. We also cover the factual
situations and the ways of dealing with the issues in The IEC material.

These IEC materials will be distributed to the
beneficiaries and other people during various meetings, consultations as well
as during the follow-up programs. The materials will be circulated to the
beneficiaries, the people covered in the survey, head of the institutions,
members of the civil society, feminist activists and persons across different
walks of life in order to increase awareness on the sexual harassment laws and
the importance of its implementation.

Due to the sharing vital information relating to
sexual harassment of women at workplace through IEC materials large number of
population has come to know the basics of the sexual harassment laws. The heads
of the institutions now have a brief knowledge of the procedures for the
formation of sexual harassment complaint committee and it’s functioning as well
as their responsibilities towards the safety of their female staffs. Moreover,
the male and female employees have also become aware of the meaning of sexual
harassment, the remedial measures provided in laws etc. Discussing ahead, it is
worth mentioning that after our intervention and orientation provided to the
head of the institutions about the sexual harassment laws, more than 21
institutions have formed the internal sexual harassment complaint committee
while the others are in process.

4. Meeting of the
MJK sexual harassment complaint committee

On 05th August, 2014 at 2 pm to 4 pm a meeting
of Sexual harassment complaint committee was organized by Mahila Jagaran Kendra
in the Koshish office for the appraisal and achievement of last year and
planning of this year, project based on the “sexual harassment of women at
workplace. The basic aim of the consultation was to enrich the planning of the
project as well as the materials prepared by the staffs for better
implementation of the project. The consultation included many eminent
personalities of the social work field. After the consultation a meeting of the
sexual harassment complaint committee also happened where many issues relating
to the sexual harassment was also discussed.

The total number
of participants included 8 people. These covered eminent personalities from the
field of social work, namely; Mrs. Neelu, Mrs. Shivani, Mrs. Sajina Rahat, Mrs
Anjali, Ms. Nupur, Mr. Vinod and Mr. Sanjay. The participants included the
interns working under the project as well.

A short presentation was shared with the
participants related to the planning of the project named and titled “Campaign
against reducing sexual harassment of women at work place and proper
implementation of laws relating to sexual harassment against women and girls in
the state of Bihar” by Ms. Nupur.

·Regarding the awareness activity, Vinod
jee suggested that we should take help from social activist and that is Mrs
Sajina Rahat. We can prepare a script or a music and can aware the people with
the help of these types of tools. Mr. Sanjay Kumar and Mrs. Shivani suggested
that we should involve the unorganized sector in the network, like poor women,
maid, womenlabor
and women of lower status.

·Mrs Sajina said that we should aware the
media and the press like REDIO MIRCHI and DOORDARSHAN because it will help the
implement of this act. She also suggested that there is need to implementation
in state level complaint committee. it is working very slowly and very
inactively.

·Regarding the implementation strategies,
the participants shared their concerns about the implementation tools and
strategies for the proper implementation of the Vishakha Guidelines and the
laws relating to sexual harassment. Ms. Shivani said that we must aware the
advocate fist and after that we can aware the civil society. So we should
organize the meeting with lowers.

5. Conduction the meeting of Nirbhaya Women’s Network

On
30th August, 2014 at 2 pm to 4 pm a meeting of Nirbhaya Women’s
Network was organized by Mahila Jagaran Kendra in the Koshish office.

The
basic aim of the meeting was to discuss about the case of Rajda and Meenakshi.
The total number of the network member was 5 and they were Mrs. Shivani, Mrs.
Sajina, Mrs. Neeta Mohini, Mrs. Babita and Ms. Nupur.

Range
of Activities

Discussion about the last meeting

At the beginning we discussed about what we found in
the case of Rajda by the last meeting. We knew that as the victim is very timid
she did not wanted to file a case against the perpetrator. Therefore, the
network is also looking forward to provide her legal and economic support. But,
during some days the victim and her family have been torturing by the
perpetrator with threatening. She also got some money and gifts from the
perpetrator with bad intention. So now she is ready to fight against the
perpetrator.

The second was Meenakshi’s case. She has been
teaching in D.A.V. School since last 10 years and she has been suffering from
sexual harassment in her work place by the Principle of the school. She wants
support from Nirbhaya Women’s Netwrok and so she wrote an application to the
Netwrok at 27-03-14. We tried so many times to get appointment from the
Principle to discuss the matter of Meenakshi, but we failed. Now we decided
that we will go to the school and meet him and also gave him an application for
giving an appointment to discuss the above matter.

Suggestions and feedback

·Regarding the case of Rajda, Mrs. Meeta
Mohini suggested that we should keep some evidence in written form, by Rajda.
Because there is possibility of change the victim, so we should keep security
for that situation.

·Mrs Shiwani suggested that we should not
keep silent now. We have to go there for filing the case because they are
giving threatening to Rajda and her family.

·Mrs. Shiwani suggested that Mrs. Neelu,
Mrs. Shivani and Ms. Nupur will go to Ranchi and Anjali from Dhanbad will also
go with us for filing the case.

·Mrs. Sajina suggested that the chief
functionary of that N.G.O. should organize a meeting and talk to everyone.

·Regarding the case of Mrs. Meenakshi,
Mrs. Shiwani suggested that we have to take appointment till 10th of
the September. And Mrs. Shiwani, Mrs. Neelu, Mrs. Sajina, Mrs. Meeta Mohini,
Mrs. Babita and Ms. Nupur, All the above will go to the principle for discuss
about the matter of Mrs. Meenakshi.

·Regarding the case of Ms. Rupashree,
Mrs. Shiwani and Mrs. Meeta Mohini suggested that Ms. Rupashee should file the
petition in the court and after getting this order sheet, she has to go to Mrs.
Smita Paul for making pressure on her for giving letter to Ms. Rupashree and
then Rupashree can get justice.

6.Participation in workshop on GENDER AND
DEVELOPMENT

Program
name : Workshop
on Gender and Development

Venue : N. B. J. K. Training centre, Ranchi

Date : 11.08.14 - 14.08.14

Purpose:

ØTo
develop our understanding power on Gender

ØTo
clear about Gender Discrimination

ØWhat
is Development and how it is possible

ØHow
to work at the project for betterment

The workshop started on 11-08-14
with introduction of the participant. Almost 25 people participated in the workshop.
All of the participants gave their short introduction; what is their name, from
where he or she came and from which organization she or he belongs to. Ms. Girija
and Ms. Vrinda also gave their introduction to us.

After that all the participants
were asked that about their expectation from this workshop and then we started
discussion on GENDER. We knew that there is only difference between boy and
girl and that is physical construction. And other differences are made by
society.

We discussed on gender and through presentation
we saw that we do difference between girl and boy at home, at work place, in
custom and religion and in public.

Ms. Neelu said that without support
of male it is very difficult to work at this issue. So we should organize the
training for male and female both.

And after that we discussed about
the sex ratio. We knew that there is a large difference in sex ratio in India.
It is wrong to think that education and financial condition are the reason for
that. In towns we find that there is education. But still their sex ratio is
not equal. Also their financial condition is good but sex ratio is not equal.
There is need to find out the main root of these types of issues after that we
can do something for this issue.

After this, Ms. Vrinda explained about
the difference between need and interest. She said that we should do
work with interest as well as need.

We saw three movies during the
workshop. “Astitva”, “Highway” and “Pita Putra aur Satta”. In these movies we saw the different forms
of the women’s issue. After watching it we discussed about the movies.

In the movie Astitva we saw the story of a woman who spent her whole life for
her family. But after her one mistake she is exploited by her husband and her
son, only because she is a woman. On the other hand a man is totally free for
doing any types of mistakes. And nobody can blame for anything to him.

Second movie was Highway. In this movie we saw the story
of a girl who is sexually harassed by her uncle. Her mother knows everything
but she doesn’t want to tell anything to anybody so she suppressed the
matter. The girl has been harassed by
uncle through her childhood due to the silence of her family. This movie shows
the truth of our society, which is actually happening in our society. So, there
are needs to break the silence against sexual harassment.

Third movie was Pita, Putra aur Satta. In this movie we
saw so many problems of a woman. Like Child marriage, Sati pratha and religious
base riot and so.

Thus we saw the different types of
problem that have been facing by a woman in her regular life. These are only occurring due to gender
discrimination. So first of all we need
to change our view and need to work for gender equality.

After
that, Vrinda discussed about “What is
Development?”

ØWhen
Educational Development is high

ØWhen
Proper use of natural resource is high

ØWhen
Health status is high

ØWhen
Income levels is high

ØWhen
Unemployment is low

ØWhen
Gender discrimination is low

ØWhen
Technological Development is high

ØWhen
Real Participatory/ Freedom is high

ØWhen
Infrastructure is high

ØWhen
Caste basis discrimination is low

ØWhen
Mental Psychological well being is high

We
also discussed about “what is necessary
in Development?”

ØPolitical
Freedom

ØEconomical
facilities

ØSocial
opportunities

ØTransparency

ØProtective
Security

After
that we knew that about 50 million women are mission. These are the reason of
it:

ØDowry
Death

ØFeticide

ØMental
depression

ØTrafficking

ØLack
of vitamins

ØIn
India the sex ratio is 914 according to the survey of 2011. But there is need
to noticing that 0-6 year girls are counted in the survey. But what about the
women who died due to Dowry, Feticide, mental depression, trafficking and lack
of vitamins. If it is counted then what will be the ration? There is need to
think about it.

Sex election

On this issue Ms. Vrinda said that Gender
discrimination is the main reason of sex election. She show us some posters
related to the issue and discussed about the abortion. We knew that a woman has right to abort her
child. It is not a murder. So it is wrong to use the word “murder” in the
posters or anywhere. In India almost 10% mother death is occurred due to
unsecure abortion.

We prepared a poster group wise for domestic
violence and discussed at the domestic violence. We also shared the campaign
program related to reducing domestic violence.

A woman can go these places when
she suffers from domestic violence.

ØPolice
station

ØHelp
line

ØN.
G. O.

ØMahila
Thana

Ms.
Girija gave us some important tips during the workshop:

ØIt
is extremely important to build Network.

Ø To maintain it is also important

ØTo
follow up is essential

ØTo
involve the media is also very important part of our work

ØTo
strengthen the case work is very important

ØTo
link up the relevant people is useful

7.Our intervention in
the sexual harassment cases in Patna

After various activities undertaken by the
organization relating to sexual harassment many cases came into light related
to the sexual harassment at workplace in the month of May, 2014. We got two
cases of sexual harassment.

Case no. 1

The victim was working in a grass
root NGO as an office assistant suffered sexual harassment and sexual violence
at the hand of the brother of the head of the organization. The women had only
completed 3 ½ months of her service, that she had to suffer sexual violence.
The perpetrator used to harass her by unwanted physical touches, advances and
gestures. The women simmered in silence in fear of getting stigmatized. But,
her silence bore her an aggravated and dreadful result. She was subjected to
sexual violence by the perpetrator. This left the victim in great distress and
pain. There was no one who could come to her rescue. Moreover, two women
supporting the victim were also fired from their jobs.

The victim thereafter came to know
about the NIRBHAYA Women’s Network through her well wishers and approached the
members of network for helping her out. The members of the Network also went
for the fact finding of the case to the organization where the incidences had
occurred. The fact finding suggested that the head of the organization had
wrongly suppressed the matter and was biased against the victim.

The victim is in touch with the
Network and the members of network are providing her counseling and legal
support. But, as the victim is very timid she did not wanted to file a case
against the perpetrator. Therefore, the network is also looking forward to
provide her legal and economic support.

Case no. 2

The victim has been working in
D.A.V. School as a teacher since 2004. She is harassed by the principle of the
school. The perpetrator always shouts on her and uses abusive language for her.
The victim complained for this to Zonal Director and Director. After that, the
perpetrator started torturing with her more than before. The perpetrator gave
threatening to her that if she will disclose the matter to anyone then she can
be spoiled. The other teachers know
everything but due to fear they are speechless.

At November 2013 the victim became
ill and due to illness the doctor said to her for rest. Many times she wrote applications
many times to the perpetrator for leave, but he doesn’t accept her leave all
the times. The victim became very weak and took leave without permission. In
the absence of the victim, the perpetrator held her salary and charged leave
without pay. She doesn’t get her salary for three months. After joining the
principle started giving more pressure on her for taking over classes for 5
hours continuously. So due to over load of work, it began to effect on her
health. On the other hands the other teachers were taking leave easily but she
can’t.

Now the victim thereafter came to
know about the NIRBHAYA Women’s Network through her well wishers and approached
the members of network for helping her out.

8.Meeting the victims

As any case comes to us seeking help with regard to
the sexual harassment at workplace, then first of all a meeting of the members
of NIRBHAYA Women’s Network is held. Thereafter, the members meet the victim
and the other side also. After this, the members again hold a meeting for
taking appropriate action in the case and for providing the victim legal aid or
counseling. The members take action such as meeting the officials in the
organization on behalf of the victim and narrating her stance.

9. Taking action in their cases

The Network has taken many steps to help those
victims of sexual harassment in filing the case, by providing legal aid and
counseling. It also works as a pressure group on the government for taking
stern action against the culprit.

10. Providing them legal aid and counseling

The victims are connected to the women and other
good lawyers who would deal their case properly without taking any monetary
benefits. Moreover, they are provided legal aid time to time regarding the
sexual harassment law, 2013, the criminal legislations, service laws etc.
Moreover, meeting is conducted with the head of institution for taking
appropriate action in such cases.

11. Monitoring and
project management: Staff meeting

The monitoring of the project is also done at the
local level by the Chief functionary of the organization and other civil
society members associated with the project. Moreover, the plans for running
the projects smoothly is discussed with the Chief functionary, board members
and sexual harassment complaint committee members at the staff meeting. The
staff meeting of the organization happens at every month, where the project
staffs present the progress of their project.

12. Problems

·As the follow-up program is being
carried out by the project staff, while visiting the institutions and carrying
on meetings with the head of the institutions they say that such cases do not
occur in their institution and their attitude regarding the formation of sexual
harassment compliant committee did not seemed positive. For eg: the head of
Rajkiya Aurved Collage, ICICI PRUDENCIAL and Telegraph were reluctant to form
any committee.

·Time taking implementation process – As
the organization has asked the workplaces surveyed through letters to form the
sexual harassment complaint committee some of them replied that they will have
to talk to their head office and as it goes through a long and time taking
process it may consume a good amount of time.

·Moreover, as the private and the
government organizations are asked to provide information through letters about
the implementation of the sexual harassment laws and formation of the sexual
harassment complaint committee in written, therefore, it is also a time taking
process and the quick dissemination of information depends on the will of the
organization and its head.

13. Achievements

·Victims are now
approaching us for help in order to fight for justice. They have approached us
through reference, by word of mouth, social media networking etc.

·The organization is
also facilitating the women lawyers by providing them the opportunity to deal
with the cases of sexual harassment.

·The survivor’s
network and their sensitivity for each-other’s matter is growing day-by-day
because of the initiative taken by our organization.

·NIRBHAYA Women’s
Network is working properly for in cases of sexual harassment and providing aid to the victims.

·Internal complain
committee are forming from the effort of the project staff.